End of Life Vehicles

Car owners are entitled to "free take-back" of their old vehicles, known as End of Life Vehicles (ELVs). Every year, around 2 million vehicles in the UK become waste. Collecting, storing, treating and disposing of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) can pollute the environment.

Vehicles covered by ELV legislation

ELV legislation aims to reduce the amount of waste produced from vehicles when they are scrapped, and ensure that storing and treating ELVs does not harm the environment. ELV legislation applies to cars and vans, and the treatment requirements apply to all waste motor vehicles, including:

three-wheeled motor vehicles

coaches

buses

motorcycles

goods vehicles, e.g lorries

Vintage vehicles

Vintage vehicles do not fall within the scope of the ELV legislation. These are vehicles kept in a proper and environmentally sound manner, either ready for use or stripped into parts.

Vintage vehicles can include:

historic vehicles

vehicles of value to collectors

vehicles intended for museums

The ELV legislation does not cover ships, trains or planes.

How much does it cost?

There is no cost for the take-back of old vehicles.

How do I get my old vehicle taken back?

Car manufacturers have established new national networks of existing facilities that will accept their own brands, when those vehicles reach the end of their lives. The UK currently scraps around two million cars and vans each year and these new "producer responsibility" regulations are good news for both the environment and car owners, who will no longer need to pay to dispose of their vehicles.

Manufacturers of the vast majority of vehicles on the UK's roads have made their network arrangements with one of two service providers.

Certificate of Destruction

A Certificate of Destruction will be issued to owners when facilities receive a vehicle for treatment. This certificate will show that the vehicle will be treated appropriately, and will enable de-registration of the vehicle from the DVLA database.

Legislation

The End of Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations were laid in Parliament on 9th February 2005. They completed the UK's implementation of The End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive (2000/53/EC).

The regulations apply to cars and goods vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

For vehicles not produced by any of the above manufacturers, contact the relevant manufacturer or official importer directly to find out details of their arrangements to provide the same service.

Owners who take their vehicle to the designated facilities can be assured of free take-back at a minimum provided the vehicle is largely complete, including engine/gearbox, bodywork, wheels and catalytic converter (where fitted from new) and additional waste has not been added.

Depending on scrap metal prices, last owners may be offered a fee on delivery of their vehicle. However, this is not an entitlement under the regulations and is subject to individual negotiation with the accepting treatment facility.

If a vehicle is more than 30 miles from the nearest facility in the manufacturer's network, it will be eligible for collection free of charge. Further details are available through the relevant Service Provider or directly from the manufacturer.

The Directive introduced higher environmental standards for the treatment and dismantling of vehicles when they are scrapped. In particular it:

requires Member States to ensure that ELVs can only be scrapped ('treated') by Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs), which have been permitted by the appropriate environmental regulator, and who must meet tightened environmental treatment standards;

required ATFs to issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) to last owners on acceptance of the vehicle for disposal, which enables the vehicle to be de-registered from the DVLA database;

states that last-owners must be able to dispose of their vehicles free of charge from January 2007, even if the vehicle has no value when scrapped;

requires producers (vehicle manufacturers or importers) to meet 'all or a significant part' of the costs of free take-back from January 2007;